[Soft tissue sarcomas of the ENT area. A report of experiences of the Vienna University ENT Clinic].

BACKGROUND

Soft-tissue sarcomas of the head and neck are rare. Local recurrence is common, and wide excision is thought to be the mainstay of treatment. Surgical radicality is limited by the vicinity of vital organs. Improvement of cure rates therefore is expected mainly from combined treatment modalities.

METHOD

Retrospective analysis of 32 cases of soft-tissue sarcoma on file at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the University of Vienna between 1954 and 1994.

RESULTS

The most frequent descriptive histological diagnosis was polymorphic cell sarcoma in 11 cases. An immunohistological verification was possible in seven cases. The larynx and the pharynx (16 percent each) were the most common sites of affection. Incidence peaks were noted in the third and seventh decade of age. Treatment during the 1950s consisted of surgery and/or irradiation and was supplemented from the 1960s on by polychemotherapy. The median survival was 29 months. Three patients are alive, two patients died free of disease and six patients were lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Permanent cure was rare but each therapeutic regimen seemed to provide prolongation of life. The most important prognostic factors were tumor size, histologic grade, and surgical margins.